What Is An Ultrasound?
An ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to create a visual image of the inside of your uterus. A woman has an ultrasound early in her pregnancy to verify she’s actually pregnant and find out how far along she is. Our no-cost ultrasounds are provided by an RN and registered sonographer.
How Does It Work?
Our sonographer applies a gel-like substance to your abdomen. The gel helps transmit sound waves. A hand-held device called a transducer is rubbed over the gel to record the echoes of the sound waves it picks up. It’s those echoes that create an image on a screen.
Why Do I Need An Ultrasound?
You’d think a positive pregnancy test would be all you needed in order to know if you’re actually pregnant, but it’s only the beginning. There’s actually a possibility you aren’t pregnant even with a positive test result.
According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 20% of known pregnancies end in a natural miscarriage. You can still get a positive test result days after a miscarriage because it takes your body time to realize you’re no longer pregnant.
What Information Do I Get?
Our no-cost ultrasound gives you vital information, especially if you’re considering abortion. Here’s what it reveals:
- Confirms you’re actually pregnant (a viable pregnancy is detected)
- Estimates how far along your pregnancy is (the gestational age)
- Determines where your pregnancy is located (not an ectopic pregnancy)
In St. Louis, the average cost of an ultrasound is $250. Take advantage of this no-cost service from the Pregnancy Help Center.
Abortion and Ultrasound
In order to determine what type of abortion you can have, you need to know how far along you are. You qualify for a medical abortion if you are 10 weeks or less. If you’re farther than 10 weeks, you’ll need to have a surgical abortion. Ultrasound can determine gestational age by measuring the fetus.
There’s no point in scheduling an abortion if you’ve already miscarried. The sonographer will be able to see the movement of the fetus to determine if your pregnancy is viable.
If your pregnancy is not located in your uterus, it’s called an ectopic pregnancy. This is a very dangerous medical issue. An abortion will not be able to end an ectopic pregnancy.
After The Ultrasound
Now you can see why a limited obstetrical ultrasound is important. It provides all the information you need to know about your pregnancy. Afterward, we can sit down and discuss all of your options. Schedule a no-cost appointment with us.